Australia 461-2 automated enzyme immunoassays 205-6 agronomic characteristics 20-1 automated microbiological methods air handling system

Published by woodhead Publishing Limited, Abington Hall, Abington Cambridge cb1 6AH. england www.woodhead-publishing.com Published in No d South America by CRC Press LLC, 2000 Corporate Blvd, Nw Boca raton Fl USA First edition 1992. Ellis Horwood Ltd

Chapter 8 Mr robert d. Heap mBe Dr Roy b idge Refrigeration Technology Campden Chorleywood Food Research market Road Association

This chapter focuses on the key elements of international and national regulatory controls and associated guidance on the manufacture, storage and distribution of chilled foods. European countries in membership of EU are covered only insofar as where national legislation or guidance exists in addition to general EU rules Since chilled foods are a relatively recent

Organisations looking to develop their business operations through the current volatile economic climates need to establish clear objectives as to how the various elements of the business need to perform to ensure continuing growth and viability. In order to achieve these objectives it is further imperative to have mechanisms in place to monitor performance and also to provide a process by which change can be implemented in those areas of activity which need strengthening. Total Quality

Chapter13 has outlined the concept of hygienic design'and hygienic practices'in controlling the safety of chilled food products. This chapter deals with hygienic practices, specifically those related to cleaning and disinfection. Contamination in food products may arise from four main sources: the constituent raw materials, surfaces

The primary concern of chilled food manufacturers is to produce a product that is both wholesome, i.e. it has all the fresh, quality attributes associated with a chilled food, and safe, i.e. free from pathogenic microorganisms and chemical and foreign body contamination. This is particularly important in this product ector as, due to the nature and method of production, many chilled foods are classified as high-risk products

Quality is an essential feature that will lead the consumer to select or not any food product. With numerous food scares that have hit the food market in the UK and Europe (E. coli, BSE, genetically modified organisms-based products, dioxins in animal feed in Belgium)consumers have become much more aware

Many different ingredients and raw materials are processed to make chilled foods. At harvest or slaughter these materials may have a wide range of microbes in or on them. Some of them carry the micro-organisms that cause their eventual spoilage(e.g. bacilli or Lactic acid bacteria) whilst others pick them up during harvesting or processing

All food products are susceptible to deterioration in their quality during storage. Chilled foods in particular are highly perishable and the time during which the quality is maintained at a consumer acceptable standard can be termed the shelf-